About the Cover

The image illustrates the growth index, pigmentation, and fabric dyeability potential of marine bacteria isolated from near-bottom waters and coral reef sediments of the Benham Bank Seamount in the Philippine Rise Region. Profiling has revealed seven distinct isolates, which demonstrated optimal growth in marine agar as noted by darker pigmentation and higher biomass yield. Isolates BR14, BR100, and BR61 produced pigments that were acetone-soluble, whereas isolates BR144, BR101, and BR146 were hexane-soluble. These findings support a proof-of-concept that natural pigments extracted from the largely untapped marine microbial resources of the country can be utilized as fabric colorants for the textile industry. To learn more, go to pages 615–641.

Editorial Board

[EDITORIAL] Going Back Caesar A. Saloma

REGULAR ARTICLES

Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activities and In Silico Docking Studies of Blumeatin Isolated from Blumea balsamifera L. DC. Rosemarie Elloisa P. Acero and Evangeline C. Amor

Estimation of Poisson Autoregressive Model for Multiple Time Series Paolo Victor T. Redondo, Joseph Ryan G. Lansangan, and Erniel B. Barrios

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Stems and Branches of Falcata [Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes] Grown in Caraga, Philippines Oliver S. Marasigan, Ramon A. Razal, Wilfredo M. Carandang, and Marina A. Alipon

Statistical Analysis of Crop Water Stress in Rainfed Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Using Spectral and Non-spectral Indices Glaiza J. Visitacion, Ronaldo B. Saludes, Roger A. Luyun Jr., Yaminah Mochica M. Pinca, and Marck Ferdie V. Eusebio

Survey on Health and Safety Concerns of Laboratory Animal Workers in the Philippines Jan Irving A. Bibay and Josephine D. Agapito

Screening, Characterization, and Isolation of Pigments from Bacteria in Mesophotic Depths of the Benham Bank Seamount, Philippine Rise Region Christopher G. Batbatan, Albert Remus R. Rosana, Kleinberg X. Fernandez, Saul M. Rojas, Hildie Maria E. Nacorda, Asuncion K. Raymundo, and Nacita B. Lantican

Bacterial Composition of Scotophilus kuhlii Guano from Plant Roost around Rice Farms in South-central Mindanao, Philippines Cromwel M. Jumao-as, John Aries G. Tabora, and Ma. Teodora N. Cabasan

Association of Omentin rs22740907 Gene Polymorphism and Its Protein on the Risk of Obesity and Metabolic Disorder in Thai Children Banchamaphon Pheungruang, Kanjana Suriyaprom, Anchalee Tungtrongchitr, Piyaporn Karuwanarint, Chutima Sirikulchayanonta, Pattaneeya Prangthip, Karunee Kwanbunjan, and Rungsunn Tungtrongchitr

[RESEARCH NOTE] Low pH and Low Coral Cover at a Shallow Hydrothermal Vent Site in Batangas, Philippines Michelle Reyes, Maria Lourdes San Diego–McGlone, Richard Pavia, John Opiña, Raffi Isah, Ryan Magyaya, John Morris, Natasha Tamayo, and Wilfredo Licuanan

Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in the Vicinity of an Abandoned Mercury Mine in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines Jessie O. Samaniego, Cris Reven L. Gibaga, Alexandria M. Tanciongco, Ma. Catriona E. Devanadera, Fevi Rose C. Paro, Jihan H. Adil, Mariel O. Montano, Rico Neil M. Quierrez, and Alaine Claudette S. Gutierrez

Identification of QTL Underlying Plant Height and First Branch Height of Cassava Nang Hmwe Hmwe, Supajit Sraphet, Nattaya Srisawad, Duncan R. Smith, and Kanokporn Triwitayakorn

Review on the Feasibility of Clay Utilization in Pigment Dispersion Joshua C. Castillo and David P. Penaloza Jr.

[RESEARCH NOTE] Computerized System of Data Organization at the Philippine Plant Germplasm Repository Visitacion C. Huelgas, Louis Samuel H. Dizon, and Richard T. Hermoso

Antibacterial Activity of Bacteriocin from Pediococcus pentosaceus Strain 2397 and Application as Biopreservative for Fishballs Usman Pato, Yusmarini Yusuf, Shanti Fitriani, Diky Arma Fauzi, Ghina Ismadiah, Miftahul Hidayah, and Windy Sabiliani

Community Structure of Resident and Migratory Bird Species in Talabong Mangrove Forest, Bais City, Negros Oriental, Philippines Jean Henri M. Oracion, Renee B. Paalan, Julius Diyeng D. Canja, and Kriztein Lydnel P. Sumondong

Physiological and Yield Responses of Selected Mungbean Genotypes to Terminal Drought Jose Arnel O. Reyes, Evelyn F. Delfin, Melquiades Emmanuel C. Reyes, and Eureka Teresa M. Ocampo

[RESEARCH NOTE] Case Report of Infanticide by a Wild Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) Kanthi A. Widayati, Ona Noerwana, Richsy M. Fauzi, and Yamato Tsuji

Seed Germination and Vigor of Four Philippine Rice Varieties as Influenced by Hydropriming at Various Durations Nipada Ranmeechai, Angelyn T. Lacap, Marina Isabel A. Tac-an, and Emma Ruth V. Bayogan

Two New Species of Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912 (Coleoptera: Pachyrhynchini) from Mount Natampod, Pantaron Range, Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines Romeo R. Patano Jr., Victor B. Amoroso, Alma B. Mohagan, Erl Pfian T. Maglangit, Fulgent P. Coritico, and Sheryl A. Yap

Interval Estimation of the Stress-Strength Reliability for Lower Record Data Based on One-parameter Exponential Distribution Using Median Ranked Set Sampling and Record Ranked Set Sampling Mingkwan Sorin and Wuttichai Srisodaphol